Biography

Elisa James:

An Short Overview

Elisa James has been in the Entertainment Industry for 35 years, beginning her journey as a pianist, ice skater and Champion baton twirler in Sydney, Australia. Soon she added Tap, jazz, ballet, acrobatics and gymnastics to her curriculum. Classes with the cast members of the popular Australian 70′s soap opera – the “Young Doctors” fueled her love for acting and she was quickly cast in many bit parts for film and Television. Her teen years y were spent performing on stage in revues, musicals, cruises and plays as part of the famous Australian “Johnny YoungTalent Team”, where she shared the stage and studio with Nicole Kidman and, at the age of 14, starred opposite Mel Gibson on stage in her first leading role.

At 15 years old Elisa left school and became a full time professional acrobatic dancer and trapeze artist and spent many years on the road touring with Musicals and Pantomimes between acting gigs. Eventually singing became her main specialty and as a solo performer,she sang full time in musicals, revues, rock and jazz bands, & show orchestras for decades.

On to the Studio:

Elisa was a popular studio session singer for many years laying lead and harmony tracks for EMI and BMG records, recorded many jingles for radio and TV commercials and toured as a backing and lead singer with many Australian Pop stars in the 90’s including The Robertson Brothers, Melissa and Radio Freedom.

European Adventures:

In 1995 Europe beckoned with a record deal for CNR/Red Bullet records, so she and her husband Peter (a Greek Baron and her M.D) relocated to Amsterdam. After 8 years in Europe recording and touring with Top 40 pop/dance acts such as Twenty-4 Seven, Alice DJ and Papa Bear and more…. Elisa left for a new adventure.

World Cruising:

Elisa wrote and performed a lounge act and a series of One-woman Cabaret Shows which she performed in just about every country in the world while sailing on various luxury cruise vessels. Over seven years at sea, some of the lines she sang for included: Silversea, Radisson, Regent, Celebrity, and Oceania.

USA:

In 2005 Elisa secured a rare O Visa to perform in the United States where she toured with her One Women Cabaret Shows and sang to packed houses of 2000 or more people. She regularly performed with famous New York and L.A comedy acts such as Renee Taylor & Joe Bologna, Jimmy JJ Walker, and Wendy Leibman.

Back to the roots:

In 2011 Elisa moved briefly to Kansas City Missouri for a new business venture where she embraced the opportunity to get back into acting, since KC is such a busy acting and theater town. She quickly secured an agent and was cast in various TV commercials, short films, an indie film, and three hospital training films all speaking roles. She also starred on stage in a Neil Simon play and sang soprano in the world premiere of a new Musical Theater Production.

Elisa moved back to Australia in January 2013 and is looking forward to more acting singing and teaching. Her first audition back in Australia landed her a national T.V Commercial for Subway which now showing.